THE iconic Land Rover Defender has built its long and established reputation on being the go-anywhere vehicle to beat all others and despite reaching the end of the line, there is still some fun to be had in some limited edition models.

Production ends early in 2016 but in a bid to give a fitting send off to the vehicle that has been a firm favourite with royalty, the jet-set and film stars the world over, Land Rover introduced three special editions.

There is a Heritage Edition which is a tribute to the original model that first graced the stage 68 years ago. Then there is an Autobiography Edition that throws every possible luxury at the vehicle.

Finally, there is this car - the aptly named Adventure Edition in four-door 110 Station Wagon style. It really is the rough and ready action model of the trio with its Yulong White paintwork contrasting perfectly with the Santorini Black grille, bonnet, roof and rear doors. It features an Expedition roof rack, snorkel and rear access ladder.

There are larger-than-life heavily-treaded Goodyear tyres, seven-inch LED projector headlamps and clear front indicators - all features that portray a rugged, action-packed model that will take on anything Mother Nature can throw at it.

And despite the interior being relatively basic at first glance, there is certainly more emphasis on comfort than in days gone by. Premium seats feature Windsor leather upholstery and the contrast stitching adds to the luxurious appearance. Bespoke carpet mats, along with leather trimmed grab handles, steering wheel, gear knob and handbrake complete the look.

Elsewhere it is pretty simplistic. There's no sat nav, but there is a rather fiddly radio with CD player, along with Bluetooth and air conditioning.

There is a trio of second row seats and then a further two forward-facing seats that can be accessed via the rear door.

But for me, the real joy of the Defender has always been in its performance. Okay, it's noisy, uncomfortable, there is no room for your right elbow, the steering is heavy, the gear lever is fairly stiff and the handbrake is awkwardly positioned down by the clutch. But, all these seemingly negative points actually add to the Defender's charm and stand-alone character.

The vehicle is powered by a 2.2-litre 120bhp diesel engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. Acceleration is okay for such a beast of a vehicle albeit a little slow taking 14.7 seconds to reach 60mph from a standing start and the top speed is 90mph.

And as for economy, the Defender is a thirsty animal with combined fuel efficiency of 25.5mpg and carbon emissions of 295g/km.

It would be fair to say that the first time I drove a Defender I wondered what all the fuss was about. It seemed clumsy and cumbersome. Then I took it off road and was amazed by its capabilities and in the years that followed I have become an ardent fan.

During my drive, I covered hundreds of miles of motorways and open country lanes and had an absolute ball.

Admittedly the Defender, priced at £43,495, annoyed the hell out of me at times. For example, the occasion when a three-point turn became a nine-point turn, or when the rattle and shaking seemed to continue in my body long after I had turned the engine off. But, that said; every time I approached the Defender I had a smile on my face.

It's true, it lacks many of the luxurious touches rival off-roaders offer these days, but the individuality the Defender brings easily compensates for that.

And never forget this vehicle can wade across rivers 500mm deep, tackle muddy banks, ascend or descend rocky inclines, climb sand dunes and march confidently throw snow drifts.

It's those credentials that still make the Defender one of a kind.

FAST FACTS

Land Rover Defender 110 Adventure Edition

Price: £43,495
Mechanical: 120bhp, 2198cc, 4-cylinder, diesel-driven engine with 6-speed manual transmission
Max Speed: 90mph
0-62mph: 14.7 seconds
Combined MPG: 25.5
Insurance Group: 26
C02 emissions: 295g/km
Bik rating: 37%
Warranty: 3yrs/unlimited miles